The breach site has now been dewatered to provide access for inspection and investigation works to be carried out and to allow repairs to commence.
Until then we will continue to manage water levels.
Further updates will be provided when we have further informaiton.
Well one report by email a week ago, another from here and there and then the C&RT website gets an update.
Update 01/03/2021
The cofferdam has now been installed. Next week we expect to be able to dewater the site and carry out a fish rescue (while pumping water out, any fish trapped between the walls will be rescued and relocated back into the canal). Shortly after this, we will conduct our first detailed site investigation with our principal engineer, to assess the damage and decide on the repair programme to be undertaken. It will take several months for the repair programme to complete and will can share more details on timescales after the site inspection.
Not quite sure if this report is a week or so behind. Yesterday a local reported that the cofferdam was full again. Full as in up to the top? Or full to where it had naturally drained down to, as shown in the last photos? Quite unlikely to have filled all the way back up unless the cofferdam had given way, or the breach had been mended. It’s a bit like my version of 2 meters compared to someone elses!
Sadly no new photos to share that would help confirm such things. We shall wait for more information, but Ocean Lock in the docks is looking even more likely for our escape route.
One thing now ticked off the list, Mick has had his first jab. Hooray!! We’re wondering if we’ll have to return to Scarborough for our second jabs or will we be able to get them done elsewhere?
If we were still fulltime liveaboards we’d be able to go to the nearest GP surgery. Here is guidance from C&RT. Liveaboard Continuous Cruiser boater? Had your Covid-19 vaccine invite but not the actual appointment? Not had anything? Find your nearest GP and use this form http://ow.ly/sWb650DDnza to register with them. You are entitled to register, don’t accept no as an answer.
0 locks, 0 miles, 1 story here, 1 here, 1 more over here, 1st jab, 3 tests for my nephew, 9th March school return date, 1 mended camera, Act 1 and 2 drawn up, 4 options for the joust.
Last night as we sat waiting for the joint of pork to roast, in our new oven (but that’s a whole different story), I came across a story on a boating facebook group regarding a breach on the Aire and Calder Navigation. Levels had been dropping and were said to be about a foot down.
Hunting round on facebook and Canal World Forum we found more information. The breach, we think, is near to New Bridge 21, between Southfield Reservoir where the New Junction meets the Aire and Calder and where the M18 crosses the canal as it makes it’s way toward Goole.
By Goole Railway Bridge there are a set of stop gates which were closed yesterday afternoon. These are here for such a purpose, to stop the water draining out from the docks.
The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings to areas around East and West Cowick who were badly flooded earlier this year. There is a lot of water in the pound which stretches from the River Ouse, to Pollington Lock on the Aire and Calder and then down to Sykehouse Lock on the New Junction, plus all the water reserves in Southfield Reservoir.
Photos of the closed stop Gates looked like the level had dropped by about a foot, but reports from boaters at Goole Boathouse Marina were saying two foot. We are all well aware that in such circumstances people tend to exaggerate and currently 2 meters tends to be more like 4 foot for many!
Not sure how fast news travels so I contacted Lisa (a friend yet to be met) who’s boat is moored just across the way from us. She was aware of the situation and her partner Al was at their boat.
He’d been loosening ropes around the marina, the level having dropped by about 18 inches. At 9pm the level seemed to have stopped falling.
Al headed over to Oleanna, loosened our ropes, adjusted fenders and reported back to Lisa who forwarded news to us.
Today we’d booked a hire car for me to attend a hospital appointment in York. We’d already planned to then head to the marina to give Oleanna the once over and run the engine.
Apparently there are police manning the border between tiers 2 and 3, but we have a very valid reason for crossing the border today.
Our gunnels were level with the pontoon.
During our trip to York this morning Lisa was forwarding photos from the marina. The view from Oleanna’s starboard windows won’t be much, but thankfully she is upright. Big thank yous to Al for keeping an eye on her overnight.
Coming out from my appointment Mick had BBC Humberside radio on with a report on the breach. Aggregate is being dropped by helicopter to try to block the breach.
We’re heading there now and will report back later, maybe tomorrow on what we find. A huge big thank you to Al and Lisa for keeping us informed.
Beal Lock to West Haddlesey Flood Lock, Selby Canal
I woke to a different noise this morning. I’m used to Mick’s snoring so today this was something different. The high pitched call of a Kingfisher as it did it’s morning turn around the lock island, I only saw it zoom past once and far too quick for me to get the camera out. What a lovely mooring I thought.
Whiteness
Outside the water had become covered in a layer of whiteness. We’ve noticed this here before, but where could it come from? Is it from the Himalayan Balsam that surrounds the lock cut? Or some fall out from the surrounding Power Stations? We doubt the latter as only one of them is still in use.
As we had breakfast there was a sudden downpour. It looked like someone had superimposed the rain on top of a layer of marble as it landed on the white water.
Being by a handy water point on the pontoon, Mick had set a load of washing going and went out to fill the tank. The rain and the white in the air had mixed together and created a dribbley effect down Oleanna’s cabin sides. So much for giving her a wash down!
All that work gine to waste
Once the water tank was full again Mick put together the expanding hose with spray gun to give the roof and starboard cabin side a rinse down. I followed with a cloth giving it a good rub, another rinse and then a wipe down. Sadly I think I’d have been better off starting from scratch with a proper wash down of the cabin side as there was a lingering stubborn streakyness. At least it didn’t look like someone had tipped diluted white paint over us.
White scummy scum
Before more of the white stuff could fall we were ready to push off. A couple of boats had come past us yesterday afternoon heading towards Selby, so Beal Lock needed filling. As I waited for the chamber to fill the noisy Kingfisher did a circuit and landed on the weir boom post, a good vantage point. This was at quite a distance, must work out why my camera doesn’t zoom quite as much as it used to.
Can you see him?
Down the lock, the gates heavy, but manageable, we started on the big twisty turns heading down stream. Great views of Eggborough as we steered round the 180 degree bends. Some sheep had come down to the waters edge for a drink, one seemed to be stuck shouting into a hole in the bank.
Back down onto the river
We pondered on the lack of rubbish again, the tide line from flooding. Maybe it was all still there and the trees and friendly cover being so lush and green right now are just masking it.
Every five minutes I was requested to check the temperature gauge. 80 or there abouts, just where it should be.
Straight through
West Haddlesey flood lock came into view, with the levels low we didn’t even bother pulling in to drop me off. Mick swung Oleanna round and sure enough the flood lock was open at both ends. The 48 hr mooring here was empty so we decided to call it a day. The other moorings along the canal were likely to all be in full sunlight, so at least here we knew we’d be able to let Tilly out.
Eggborough, just how a power station should look
The grassy outside was just teaming with friends. All I had to do was select one. Which I did quite quickly. With only a landing next to the boat I didn’t find it suitable to dine on, only one thing for it the bedroom floor. She didn’t seem too please with me, but stood by as I finished every morsal, reciting the rules.
‘NO friends home dead….’
Not enough room to dine beside the boat
A little rest was required to help digestion, it was hot this outside, being a long cat for five minutes was needed. Then back out to see who else I could find. There was this jolly chap who I decided to bring home to play.
‘….Or alive…..’
Which one shall I choose?
But he dashed into the newspapers and Tom’s shoes. I tried to find him, but he was being elusive. She came to help, everything being shaken out before being put on the bed. There he was, just a touch too plump to fit under the washing machine! She was even less pleased, but my intended game ended up getting everyone involved.
Tom put a big box blocking off the route into the rest of the boat, my friend now having made a dash for the bathroom. Tom then came in through the front door, pokers and shovels to assist. I did my best to keep the focus away from the toilet and hunted at the other end of the bedroom, hoping this would keep the game going on for longer.
Cool patch of floor
The box She had was too big, another receptical was needed, narrow enough to go down the side of the toilet. One was found and emptied. Then a two pronged attempt, Tom with poker at one side of the toilet and She with container in hand which just handily dropped over my friend. Game over. I’d hope it would last longer. It nearly did!
She managed to get the shovel under the container, then it and my friend were carried out the front doors. I followed to watch. My friend could smell the fresh muggy air so stuck it’s nose out through a hole in the side of the container, managing to squeeze through it, just like I do with the bathroom door.This is where She gave up, and just let it run away into the friendly cover. I was then picked up and returned inside to make sure Tom was clearing up properly. I don’t know why but my friend had left lots of little poohs everywhere!
‘….or on the roof for later!’
Zonked
We haven’t checked up there yet!
After all the excitement a big shiny widebeam arrived taking its time to come through Tankards Bridge, all bow thrusters constantly being used. They pulled up behind us. Earwigging when we could. It seems that the Collingwood boat may have been on brokerage in Selby and just sold. It was being taken to Goole. Phone calls were numerous. They had no VHF radio but would need one, where would they be able to moor up, arrival of the low loader and crane, permission from the harbour master at Goole. All exciting stuff. I wonder where the boat will be taken to?
Figures around the flood lock
They moved off, a small Sea Otter pulling in and mid afternoon another narrowboat pulled in filling the gap. Here on board with his owners was Sid. He’s used to elderly cats, a nineteen year old in fact who was busy checking the insides of her eye lids. Tilly on the other hand kept a close eye on Sid from the safety of the cat walk.
We sat for a while with bow and stern doors closed, only the side hatch and galley windows giving us any form of air in the boat. In the end we decided that we’d rather Tilly brought more friends in than expire with the heat.
Unpicking
Time to replace the zip on my bum bag. Hand sewing would have to do. I took note of how the old one had been sewn in before unpicking it. The only problem I would have was what to do with the ends of the new zip, where they should poke into the bag had big rivets holding the strap on.
Tacking still to be removed
Pinned, then tacked into position, the zip worked. I then did my best to poke the ends in as far as they would go before slowly back stitching the zip in. Not the prettiest of sewing, but hopefully it will hold out for a while longer. At least my phone and camera will be safely zipped up when crossing lock gates again.
1 lock, 1 flood lock, 3.75 miles, 1 left, 1 streaky boat, 2 rinses, 1 circling Kingfisher, 80, 1 quiet hot mooring, 1 widebeam, 0 radio, 2 friends at least, 1 eaten, 1 murder scene cleaned up, 1 tuperware too big, 1 small pot with escape hatch, 1 poker, 1 shovel, 2 boaters kept busy, 1 cat reminded of the rules!!!
Old Potteries Arm to Beal Lock, Aire Calder Navigation, Selby Section
No we haven’t started testing out new boats, we’ll leave that to Adam on NB Briar Rose, but Mick wanted to test out Oleanna before we hit the tidal water of the River Ouse.
A coal shute
Back in October last year when I headed off to work on Panto, Mick with the help of Paul (Waterway Routes) aimed to get Oleanna up the Thames to Oxford from the Kennet and Avon. On their second day of cruising, trying to beat the rising river, Oleanna’s engine overheated and the anchor had to be dropped. They limped on to Abingdon where RCR came out. When Mick managed to get a touch further upstream to Sandford Lock the engine still wasn’t right, he called out the engineer again. This time investigations found a lot of rusty crud in the cooling system, a reason for which still eludes us. The engineer suggested leaving the system for around six to nine months and then checking to see if the crud had returned. The last thing we want is for the engine to overheat on tidal water, let alone when turning into Selby Lock!
On the river stretches we’ve been on in the last few days we’ve kept an eye on the temperature gauge as Oleanna’s engine has been cranked up and it has remained normal. Not wanting to drain the system Mick decided to see what would happen if he removed the thermostat, this would mean we wouldn’t get hot hot water from our cruise today as the system would be free to flow around the skin tank rather than the calorifier and would prove that it could do so. So before setting off today he ventured into the engine bay and removed the thermostat whilst the engine was cold.
Sanded
I got the sand paper out and sanded back the filler/primer and then wiped away the dust from Oleanna’s clean exterior. Some patches will need a touch more to give a smoother finish before the top coats go on. With this done it was time to make a move.
Drier than yesterday
Somehow the soaked teddy, that had been sat on the grassy bank looking up at the view yesterday, had moved. He was now a similar distance in front of us. Maybe a C&RT chap we’d seen this morning had moved him, or maybe overnight the bear had had a tipple too many and staggered past us to end up face down in the grass. Who knows.
March 2019
Time to push off and see what damage has really been done to the skyline of Knottingly. We tried our best to line up with the photo I’d taken last year, a monumental solid image of power production. Now I am in mourning.
10th August 2020
Along the cut there are a couple of places just crying out to be used for outdoor performances. I considered giving my friend Sian a call, she lives locally. We could put a show on here, her fiance Matt could do a one man show, directed by Nick another local writer director. Sian could costume Matt and I could make the surroundings fit the play better. I wonder how two one act plays about toilets would go down with the folks of Knottingley?
A natural outdoor theatre space
At Bank Dole Junction there are permanent moorings and a boat yard. Big boats tend to live here. Today we couldn’t see round the bend towards Goole due to there being even more big boats. The penny soon dropped.
Here were Tom Puddings, sat out of the water was Sobriety and along the way was Wheldale. All these boats used to be at the Yorkshire Waterways Museum in Goole, now closed. A banner ‘FOR SALE’ on the side of Wheldale. So sad, we wonder what has happened to the moorings where these boats used to be in Goole, have they morphed into visitor moorings, or been taken over by the overstayers?
We turned left and soon came across a cruiser coming towards us, maybe the lock would be full. Sadly no another boat was following them up. Would the lock still only have one top paddle working? Would it take forever to fill? Last year we waited a very long time before calling C&RT out to assist, water was bubbling out from below the bottom gates at the same rate as it entered at the top, destined never to fill. In the end we had to go away for the night whilst they sorted it.
One out
I hopped off to lend a hand if I could, a narrowboat ascending. There was time enough for us to share our life histories as the boat slowly rose.The chap and his partner were heading to the junction with the New Junction Canal to self isolate before an operation in a few weeks time, a perfect place to be. I was also given upto date knowledge on the availability of moorings on the Selby Canal.
Going down
Our turn next to go down, it takes a while to empty, but at least both paddles work. I decided to open the towpath side gate as it doesn’t overhang the river as the other one does, therefor a lot easier to move.
Five missing
Mick reversed to pick me up and then we were off, twisting and turning. The first glimpse of Eggborough and Drax Power Stations got my usual excited reaction for the cooling towers. Just what will the sky line look like should they be demolished?
This way and that we went, checking the temperature gauge at regular intervals, around 60 rather than the usual cruising temperature of 80. No overheating.
Mind the tree
Sooner than expected Beal Road Bridge came into sight, large limbs of trees still caught on the uprights. That got us wondering how all the rubbish that was left after floods gets removed from the river banks. Do C&RT come along on boats to clear the trees of plastic bags? Do the local farmers come out and litter pick from the banks? Or is it all left to be swept away with the next flood?
As we pulled into the lock cut we could see one boat at the lock landing end of the pontoon, but the rest was clear, enough space for us. Pulled in we now had to explain to Tilly why shore leave was not possible in such a wonderful outside, she wasn’t impressed!
New thermomstat
Lunchtime and then jobs. With the engine cooled Mick set about putting in a new thermostat and I scraped away a new rusty patch on the starboard side grab rail.
Then it was time to look at the cratch cover. When we shared locks with NB Billy we’d not rolled the covers up fully. Not only had a rivet popper been squashed on the bow, but the cover had been pulled tearing it around a popper. The Fent shop in Skipton had come up trumps with some waterproof blue fabric, so I intended to patch the area as best I could, still being able to use the popper.
Closer inspection suggested I could just darn the tear, hopefully that would hold the popper in position and do the same job as a patch would do. I’d bought some thick polyester thread as the Linen thread I’ve used before hasn’t stood up well to the elements. Maybe I should have bought black thread for this job as the blue is a touch brighter than the fabric. Whilst I was there I had another go at sewing a zip back together, hopefully this will hold a while longer.
Tonights mooring
The lock island seems to be inhabited by at least one very vocal Kingfisher. Every now and again it does a circuit of the island, zooming past Oleanna and returning further up the cut. Just a shame there isn’t a suitable perch opposite us as the cut is brimming with fish.
1 lock, 3.77 miles, 1 left, 2 rights, 3 power stations, 1 a shadow of it’s former self, 12 patches sanded, 2 patches fertand, 1 thermostatless cruise, 1 new thermostat, 1 zip, 1 darn, 1 kingfisher at least, 1 bored cat.
Just a short distance on is the Anchor Inn, visitor moorings outside which NB Elvira was taking advantage of. Back in 2014 we walked back from Foulridge for a drink in this pub and to have a look around the cellar. The pub existed before the canal and flooded once the cut was filled with water. Rooms were built on first floor level, which is now the ground floor of the pub. The cellar still has the original front door which opens out onto what was the packhorse road, now filled with thin spindly stalactites.
Rollers
After Salterforth Bridge there is a 90 degree turn in the cut, rollers protect the arch of the bridge guiding the towrope around the corner, there are more of these on the curly wurlys.
Hello!
At Lower Park Marina the stern of NB Billy sat out from her surrounding neighbours, Clare and Pete have pulled in to catch up on washing and have an explore for a couple of days.
Through the bridge we pulled in ourselves. It’s been about three weeks since we had a top up from NB Alton at Bugsworth and we’ve covered some miles since then. The diesel pump was a little short of 100 litres, but at 70p it was worth the top up and it’s not often you get to fill your diesel tank with a stag watching you.
This way
Onwards through Barnoldswick, more commonly known as Barlick. The terraced houses here have slanting roofs, not stepped and some of the terraces climb steep hills. It’s hard to know whether to line up the walls or the roof for a photo.
Or that?
Clare and Pete were at the next bridge so we stopped for a chat. The marina moorings were a real bargain at £5 a night and a local cafe did a good breakfast. Suspect we’ll see them again tomorrow, another hopfrog or leapscotch!
£399,950
A couple of houses were for sale, one terraced with only a short stretch of canal and a more modern open plan house hiding behind the towpath wall.
A Short boat
A few more bends till we arrived at Greenberfield Locks, these would take us down from the summit pound and commence our descent to Leeds. Short boat Kennet sat at the end of the moorings looking all wide and purposeful. Then two Silsden wide beams, one by the water point, the other by the lock landing. We decided that they must have stopped for lunch, there are signs saying you can stay for an hour, even if you are in the way a bit.
Greenberfield Top Lock
I managed to hop off and went to set the lock. The towpath side box ground paddle didn’t want to move, so I walked round to the off side. This one let me turn the handle, but one of them got their own back and covered the front of my t-shirt with black grease. I seem to now remember this happening before here! Hopefully some vanish will make it, well, vanish.
Filling the lock
A chap from one of the hire boats came to lend a hand. They had meant to be on holiday in Lanzarote, but for obvious reasons hadn’t gone, instead a boating holiday had been suggested. They were enjoying themselves and would definitely do it again.
The second lock just visible above the white cottage
I could just see the top gates of the middle lock, a chap sat on the beam, one minute a paddle looked like it was up, the next it was down. Then I could see a boat coming from the lock, a beep before it came through the bridge, quite understandable when I noticed that it was a breasted up pair. Mick came out of the lock and we swapped over, the next lock sat waiting for us.
A cow gongoozler
The chap sat on the beam was a Lockie. Maybe he looked after the central lock as it would be the first you encounter with the clough ground paddles if coming from the west. He could also keep an eye on the levels in both pounds, the one below looking a touch low until we emptied our water into it. Another boat rose in the lock below and fortunately the crew opened up the gates again, which meant I didn’t have to lift any paddles as the bottom gates leak somewhat.
View down to the moorings
As we came out of the bottom lock another boat was just arriving to head up, so good timing all round. They of course were likely to meet the two widebeams at the next two locks so good use of water.
That cable tie didn’t last long
Mick pulled us in behind a widebeam on the moorings below. Oleanna not quite the right length for the rings, so spikes were needed at the stern. Later in the afternoon we were joined by another boat filling up the last space.
As we tied up and I opened the back hatch Tilly made a bid for freedom. This didn’t go down well with me! Shore leave is only granted after the rules have been read and certainly does not start as the back doors are open. I grabbed hold of a leg and Tilly was forced back inside to wait. And wait she did.
Once the rules had been recited the doors were opened and shore leave granted. Tilly dashed across the towpath, her route already planned to the tree by the wall where a gap allowed her access straight into the field.
Tilly leading the way
Our mooring is surrounded by drumlins, hills made by glaciers streamlined in the direction of travel. Today the grass had all been cut and the farmers were busy turning and collecting it.
She came for a walk with me. We waited for a She and a Tom to walk past first. I’d forgiven her for my leg pulling and was quite glad of the company. I trotted along in front around to the next bend, She’s not too keen on me staying close to her feet so I kept a distance.
Past the bend was a boat, two chaps with bits of string in the water. She kept on walking towards them. Hang on I thought, that’s not on, I don’t like the look of them. I shouted to stop her from going any further, but she carried on. Should I dash past the boat or turn back? But She couldn’t be left on her own, I needed to protect her! What a dilemma?
Spot Tilly
There was another option, continue in the same direction, but on the other side of the wall! Now there’s clever. I made sure I shouted so She knew where I was, but She just didn’t get the message. She wanted me to go all the way to the bridge, how stupid was that! I shouted and shouted for her to jump over the wall, but she just kept calling me! Stupid!!
Stripy fields
From the bridge I could see further, I took some photos and then got a touch embarrassed at the way my cat was howling at me, so returned along the towpath, Tilly leading the way on the other side of the wall!
Back to the right side
I’d been intending to wash the starboard side today, but as it felt like Autumn half term I didn’t fancy it. Instead I looked to indoor jobs. Our floor has developed a bit of a creak as you walk past the dinette and it’s been bugging me. Under the radiator there is a section of floor that you can lift out and I thought the noise was likely to be coming from the main floor rubbing against it.
I lifted the panel out and discovered a line of Tilly fur that has found it’s way under the floor. The join was given a good clean, ballast bricks levelled out and then any fur I could suck up with the vacuum was removed. Tilly gave it an inspection before the panel went back in.
Job done. Well for a short while until the panel managed to move itself back to where it could rub itself against the main floor. A gentle bit of persuasion with a flat headed screw driver did the job this time.
The cupboard under the sink also got a make over. The contents had started to take over and were threatening to fall onto the floor and stop the door from closing. Once it was cleaned out and reorganised everything fitted again with space to spare.
Sadly this evening the creak in the floor has returned, I think a nudge with slightly more force may be required to make it silent again.
3 locks, 2.72 miles, 97.1 litres, 2 ancient woofers, 2 fat hire boats, 1 Lockie, 1 pretty mooring, 1 escapee, 1 walk, 1 adamant cat, 0.5 cat under the floor, 1 recurring creak, 1 tidy cupboard, Act 1 Amadeus.
Apologies if you tuned in this evening to watch By Jeeves at 8pm.
Somehow I got confused with the date and it actually started at 7pm! We’ve been caught out, so will have to watch it later if we can’t rewind it. Just as well it’s on for 48 hours.
Picked up from the airport and checked into my hotel I then showed my face at the theatre in the evening. A very friendly bunch who totally put me to shame, its been a very long time since I learnt German at school! Some words have come back to me during the week, but everyone at the theatre is bilingual.
Choosing paint colours with a glass of wine
I must have impressed on my first visit as I got my hands dirty and ended up being invited to stay for a drink in the crew room once everyone had finished work. This reminded me of the old SJT days when ideas were discussed in the green room over tea, just here it’s with a beer or wine in hand at 10pm.
Such a pretty theatre
On Wednesday I got to finally meet the new director Tim, a lovely fellow who has worked so hard and been exceptionally patient this week. Dan the writer and actor arrived Wednesday morning in his van, having driven from Newport in two days with jet lag. Then Fez, the videographer arrived completing the team.
A bridge pedestal
I spent the day painting things. All the base coats were ready for me to finish off. There is no scenic artist, but if you show Helga or Michaela what you want they are more than capable. Which is just as well, as I do not like their ladders and there was some high up breaking down to do.
Floor in progress
During the evening call we painted the floor. With a plank cut the right width with packers underneath it, I could paint along each side to create floorboards. As soon as I turned round to recharge my brush the plank was moved to its next position ready for me. Then laying in the Painty grain, one person wet the area and I painted over it. A very good team effort and dispite starting later than planned we finished bang on time.
The bridge goes up
Thursday and lighting started to happen. Some of this before the main parts of the set could be put in position. But once overhead was done the Transporter Bridge could be built. Sections of it I’d already faded to black after asking which way up they would be. Unfortunately Bruno had remembered his Anglo/German labelling wrongly, fortunately it was only two small pieces that needed repainting.
Michaela behind Dominic, Helga, Andreas and the only brit Vernon on the right.
The position for the projector was altered to give us a bigger image and images altered to fit the space and blended in with lighting. It all looked very exciting. The end of the days production meeting got through countless cans of beer and four bottles of wine, I left the building at 2am!
Fez checking what’s inside the cabinet
Friday, a day of getting things painted, but badly! There are some days, not many, when I pick up a brush and spend hours doing something, only to look at it later under light to see what a waste of time my work has been! The water torture cabinet is the thing that will be painted and painted on this show, time and again to get it right. It’ll get there, in the end.
The show is on till the end of February if you happen to be passing
Then the sequence with the cabinet was teched. The Audio Visuals took forever to sort. Vernon and his team had worked hard on a solution so that we could move curtains from side to side and then, on cue, have them drop to the floor, this is called a Kabuki. Fortunately my idea for this worked helped by a lot of Viennesse magic.
Now that is a big Painty sink
The content of the AV is still a bone of contention. Discussions could go on for years regarding it. Then it’s editing would take decades! To me the director is sadly right. If only the content had been able to be done in one continuous shot.
Vernon helping to check lighting states
Saturday. Tech day. This is when we stop and start the play to add in lighting cues, sound and visual along with curtains opening and closing. We started a little late, but thankfully got through the play despite there being a lot of problems with the images.
Fairground lighting state!
I at least got to sit around for much of the day instead of running around. Tim required my input on many things which was nice and stopped me from nodding off!
At last something other than rice
We finished with enough time for me to finish painting the floor, moulding my mud banks into it, whilst a sweet potato cooked in the microwave for me to eat back at the hotel at gone 11pm. This made a very nice change from various forms of microwave rice that I’ve had each evening.
Which way
Tomorrow I have the day off and I’m hoping I have enough energy to see some of Vienna. I have too many things on my list to do, but may just head in one direction and see where I end up.
Meanwhile back on Oleanna.
More bricks!
A day or so after I left, Mick headed to Sherbourne Wharf. 50 litres of diesel (we’ll get more when I’m back from Hawne Basin), they had no gas sadly, then he headed to Cambrian Wharf services to top up on water and finally dispose of our waste.
Topping up
Then they headed out of town staying on the level. First stop was just south of Edgbaston Tunnel where Tilly got to stretch her legs and be amongst the green again. But she wasn’t satisfied as the towpath was too busy.
Much better than BUMingham
Next stop was through Wast Hill Tunnel in a spot we moored with NB Blackbird a few years ago, but they arrived there too late for Tilly to explore.
Mick had hoped to be able to moor at Alvechurch, but where he’d planned he couldn’t get into the side. I’m assuming this was at a far more cat friendly mooring than the usual one by the railway and marina. So he moved on to Tardebigge, where Tilly got green freedom again.
Swish curtains
0 locks,? miles, 4 tunnels, 1 happy cat again. Short list today, it will be expanded when I’m home.
German word of the day, Ananas. This means pineapple, but it also means strawberry in Austrian!
As there have been a few comments looking forward to postcards from Vienna, I felt a little under pressure. So I thought today I’d share my breakfast with you.
Viennesse breakfast
A different cooked breakfast to one of Mick’s and sorry that the photo isn’t the best, but to my phone enables me to post.
I had some scrambled egg, tomatoes with melted cheese on top, the thinnest crispiest bacon I’ve ever come across and some sautéed veg, which included aubergine peppers and courgettes. I avoided the sausages as they were guaranteed to have gluten in them and didn’t look that appetising.
I did also have a bowl of fruit. I suspect for the next few days breakfast will end up being my main meal of the day, it’s also free!
German word of the day Prickelnd. This was on a bottle of water, my phones translated it as Tingly.
